News and
Information
What is “congestion pricing?”
Congestion pricing is the concept of charging for the use of a
transportation facility, such as a roadway, based on the level of traffic
congestion. The greater the level of congestion, usually occurring during
morning and evening rush hours, the higher the cost to use the facility.
Congestion pricing is not a panacea for congestion
relief, but it is an important tool that many cities throughout the
world have instituted or are exploring as a means to reduce congestion.
It has been proven to ease congestion by shifting some rush hour highway
traffic to other transportation modes such as vanpools and freeway
express buses or to off-peak periods by charging for use of selected
roads during a selected time. It has worked successfully in London,
Stockholm, Singapore, Minneapolis, San Diego, and Orange County.
Why congestion pricing now?
Because it provides another alternative to managing traffic
flow, which is growing increasingly worse.
To fulfill our obligation to the people of Los Angeles
County, Metro must consider all reasonable options that may contribute
to improving our mobility and quality of life. As with any complex
issue, many factors contribute to identifying and implementing
solutions. At least a few of these challenges include increased
population, increased flow of material goods on roadways, more auto
ownership and declining funding from gas tax revenue and state and
federal governments.
Congestion pricing is one approach for efficiently
managing capacity on our busy roadways by:
- Changing commuting behavior
- Generating additional funds for more transit,
vanpools and other transportation options to increase mobility
In the United States, the conversion of high
occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes is one
way to manage congestion. When driving on a HOT lane, the driver pays a
toll that varies according to:
- Vehicle passenger occupancy
- Congestion level of the highway
Monitoring congestion makes it possible to control the
traffic levels at all times and maintain the traffic speed at 50 mph.
Congestion pricing, when integrating with other traffic management
options, would help improve the travel speed of the managed lanes as
well as the general-purpose lane.
What kind of demonstration projects is Metro considering
for the Los Angeles region?
On April 24, 2008 Metro began execution of a Memorandum of
Understanding to allow Metro to negotiate with the United States Department of
Transportation (USDOT) specific grant agreements required to access an award of
$213.6 million in federal transit assistance for a variety of projects,
including bus purchases and park and ride lots. In return Metro will convert
existing HOV lanes to HOT lanes along specific sections of Interstate 10 and
Interstate 210, and if additional funding became available, along Interstate 10.
Grants will be subject to receipt of the necessary legal authority by October
15, 2008 to implement HOT lanes.
Metro has proposed a one-year demonstration pilot
project to convert certain carpool lanes into HOT Lanes to give drivers
(whether solo or carpooler) the option to drive on these facilities (at
an minimum speed of 50 m.p.h.) in return for toll payments.
When would the tolls be added to the demonstration
projects?
Implementation of the one year pilot program is expected to
start summer 2009.
Why select these three projects?
These demonstration projects meet one or more basic criteria
for successful congestion pricing:
- Carpool lane segments are long enough to offer
significant travel time savings to commuters
- Roadways lead to major activity centers
- Access to high speed parallel express bus service
options (such as the I-10 El Monte Busway or Harbor Transitway) and/or
commuter rail service (such as Metrolink.)
How would the toll be paid or collected?
The latest technology involves an easy to use electronic “fast
pass” collection system so that patrons do not have to wait in line at toll
booths.
Are there any HOT lanes being used in Southern California?
Yes. Two examples of HOT lanes in Southern California include
SR 91 in Orange County and I-15 in San Diego. In December of 1995, Orange County
opened four 10-mile toll lanes in the median of the existing State Route 91;
actual toll revenues in fiscal year 2007 amounted to $44 million, about $5.0
million more than projected.
Since December 1996 solo drivers on an eight-mile stretch of
the I-15 in northern San Diego County have been allowed to use the express lanes
on San Diego County’s I-15 for a fee, while carpoolers continue to travel free of
charge.
Will education programs describe how the public can reduce
congestion?
Yes. Educating and engaging the public regarding commuting
choices is part of the outreach program on congestion reduction that Metro will
conduct over the next several months. An early step in encouraging the public to
adjust their commuting behavior is to remind the public that viable alternative
transit options exist such as express bus service, adequate park-and-ride
lot capacity, and efficient commuter rail and vanpool options.
According to the 2000 Census, 70 percent of Los Angeles County
commuters drive alone to work, and only 7 percent use transit. Consequently,
outreach to major employers in the region will be particularly important.
Employers and employees are primary users of road infrastructure and key
stakeholders in the development of financial or other incentives to reduce
congestion.
Such incentives may include employer-paid transit subsidies,
telecommuting options, and staggered work shifts.
How much would it cost to use a “toll” lane?
Various pricing formulas will be evaluated in the Metro study.
In other metropolitan areas tolls range from $4.00 to $10.00 during peak commute
hours. Pricing will be determined as we develop our operating plan.
What would those funds generated be used for?
Revenues generated by the tolls will be used first to pay
for the operations of the managed lanes. It is expected that any additional
revenues generated from the tolls will be used to improve or enhanced
transportation services along or near the managed corridors. These may include
additional bus and rail services, roadway improvements, and other complementary
services.
Doesn’t congestion pricing favor wealthy commuters?
Congestion pricing benefits all because it provides more
options to commuters from all walks of life. Each commuter may select which mode
makes the most sense to her or him in terms of cost and travel time. At certain
times of day, the least expensive travel options—ride sharing and transit—may
also be the fastest.
Revenues generated from tolls not needed for the operations of
the lanes would be used to fund improvements to mass transit, which many low income families depend
on. Additionally, buses and vanpools would be exempt from any HOT-lane charges.
This means that anyone commuting by these modes—whatever his or her income—would
travel without paying the toll.
Why can’t carpool lanes help more with congestion?
Perhaps the most serious challenge Los Angeles County carpool
lanes face is that they are now so popular that they are getting too crowded.
Right now, several carpool lanes in Los Angeles County are close to reaching a
maximum desirable operating capacity. To ensure these lanes continue to be
effective, we must find ways to better manage the flow. One of the options is by
implementing managed lane concepts such as congestion pricing.
What happens next?
Assuming that the state legislature gives authority to
implement HOT lanes by the October 15, 2008 deadline, the demonstrations could
commence about 18 months later. A second activity that Metro is undertaking is a
study directed by Metro’s Board that requires completion of a countywide study
to produce no less than three recommendations for roadway pricing within Los
Angeles County. These demonstration projects would commence the following year.
Metro Board Reports on congestion
pricing
|
